Saturday, January 19, 2008

Yep, I'm still around if only just. I've had the flu so haven't been feeling like doing anything these past few weeks, but I hope to get back to it soon. The demo is still on going and still has work to be completed before release - but it is coming I promise!

I am about to be very busy at work again, so I hope to release the demo before that happens....hope to at any rate.

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

I've given up on trying to get each LED unit passing on the packet from the previous one if its intended for a unit further up the stream. For some reason, it just isn't working, and I really just can't put my finger on it. I could build some special hardware with mini screens or something to pin it down, but I really dont want to do that; way too much effort.

So, I've gone the lazy route and assigned each unit an ID at compile time. This means each unit will have to have its own compiled version, a pain but not un-livable with. It also makes the code much MUCH easier....

Still, since the hardware design doesn't change, if I ever figure it out, I could change it later. The Master code doesn't change either, its just how the serial line is passed on It may be I have to boost the serial signal as it'll have to go quite a ways. This would mean it has to pass through some sort of AND or OR gate just as a booster, I'll wait and see.

If anyone out there has experiance with PIC's and want to look at the unworking source, let me know..... No idea why its not working - it was pretty elegant as well....

Anyhow, I've created a 3 unit board and Im busy drilling all 261 holes! (eak!) I'm about 1/2 way through, and I'll finish it off tomorrow and then solder it all up, that part shouldn't take long, although I do have to solder 24 jumper wires along with the actual components. I think once this is working, I'll replicate the design in another package, and then see about getting some real baords made!

On a little side note....Its almost a YEAR since I started this project - looks like another one thats gonna run and run. Where HAS this year gone!!!!